Hand hygiene-intervention practices found to lower mortality, antibiotic prescription rates in nursing homes

Infection prevention practices centered on hand hygiene (HH) protocols can save lives across all healthcare facilities, according to a study done in French nursing homes. Researchers reviewed the impact of implementing a multicomponent HH program among nursing homes (NH), finding that incorporating consistent measures that prompt staff, residents and visitors to wash hands can lower mortality and antibiotic prescription rates, and increase overall hand cleaner use. Found among the results were:

• The intervention group that incorporated HH measures reported lower mortality (2.1 in the intervention group vs. 2.65 in the control group, per 100 residents per month) and antibiotic prescription rates (5 vs. 5.8 daily doses per 100 resident days). Notably, researchers recorded a 30% lower mortality rate in the intervention group in January-March 2015;
• The mean quantity of hand-rub consumption was higher in the intervention group by the study's end (7.9 mL per resident per day in the intervention group vs. 5.7 mL per resident per day in the control group); 
• Antibiotic prescriptions decreased during spring and summer and increased in winter for both groups; and
• It took three to six months for results of the HH intervention to begin emerging.